A HUGE congratulations guys! I’m so pleased the sun shined for you yesterday. I can’t wait to share all the photos, there’s so many fab ones to choose from that it’s difficult to narrow down - so I’ve gone for these beautiful pics from the start of the day!

Emma has got some serious style - I’m in love with her Viv Westwood shoes. And in this second shot her mum’s reaction to her in THE dress on THE day is just brilliant. 

I hope you’re all doing some lovely relaxing today & reliving yesterday over & over! 

xXx

If you like this, you may also want to like Betti Confetti on Facebook here.

Bobble hats in March? While it sums up this year’s British springtime rather well, it also makes for some cute shots. It might not have been quite what we had in mind for Emma & Miles’ pre-wedding shoot, but then often the best things aren’t planned … enjoy!

A WEEK TODAY GUYS - EEK! I can’t wait. X

Like these? There’s more photos from pre-wedding shoots on Facebook here.

Thanks to Louise from b.loved for first featuring Léonie & Rob’s photos here.

This first shot with the ‘Men of Britain’ book always tickles me. It just makes me think ‘sorry guys you’re all too late’. They missed out on a cracker too.

Léonie’s dress is an original vintage piece: “It’s estimated to be from 1912, I loved it as soon as I saw it. It had amazing hand stitched detail and I love to think about all the different brides who have worn it in the past.”

Photographing the getting ready part of the day is so much fun. Us girls know how much we enjoy getting ready together for a night out. Imagine that, magnified by a thousand.

The couple had thought of so many lovely personal touches. They spent 10 months collecting pretty tea cups, saucers and plates and little plant tins to use, like this Lyle’s Golden Syrup tin with the purple pansies.

“I loved walking into our venue to see all of the things we had collected laid out so beautifully,” says Léonie. “Then looking around to see all of the people we love enjoying themselves in beautiful surroundings was really special.”

“My paper rose bouquet, buttonholes and corsages were a fantastic find. We chose the papers we wanted to use and sent them to Moll and Mostin who created them for us.”

The pink dusky light made for some lovely shots, including this family portrait with Léonie’s sister, brother-in-law and niece.

And back inside, three generations at the jukebox.

Their first dance was to Dream Lover by Bobby Darin. “We had been having dance lessons prior to getting engaged so decided to put our Collegiate Shag moves to good use!”

Well you can see how well it went down! And the new Mr & Mrs asked their friends & family to join them…

… which naturally they did. Well with a cool band and a jukebox how can you not dance the night away!

A big congrats guys! 

More of the album is on Facebook here.

OOh, at first not sure… then boldly (& cleverly) counting the spots. 

Little Ada was the star of today’s sunny shoot, which was full of fun, cuddles and wildlife. See you all again in less than 3 weeks - eek! I know it’s going to be fantastic :)

 Here are some more ‘Saturday snaps’ which I’m sharing on Facebook each week here.

How proud? The excitement when the dress goes on for real! From one of my first weddings.

Tora & Geoff just last week, rocking the boat (in a good way) on Emsworth Harbour.

& escaping the snow the week before that - in the Tate’s bookshop. 

Hot off the press is Ross & Elliott’s wedding album, I can’t wait to hand deliver it over a coffee today!

They opted for a nut brown leather cover, which has a lovely textured finish - a great choice in my opinion. Mind, it’s hard to go wrong with a gorgeous range of silks, vintage leathers and cottons to choose from. Get the full effect on Facebook here »

It can be tricky planning a shoot when you haven’t yet met someone, but with 2 weeks to go before the wedding and a last minute VENUE CHANGE there wasn’t much time.

This is Elise’s heart-melting (seriously, tell me it doesn’t!) description of them - by way of explanation as to why my suggestion of ice-skating wasn’t really her cup of expresso.

“I am 35 and he is 47 and he prefers his golf above anything!”

“He is British with his calmness and politeness, loves tea and says ‘lovely’ all the time.

I am French, speak my mind in a very direct manner, love heated debates and my blood is half expresso!”

“I guess we’re both somehow traditionalists or old fashioned (in terms of values) in a modern world so that would translate as… we like antiques and old stuff, the peace and quiet of country walks while carrying our tablets/laptops around.”

“We have different languages and ways of expressing ourselves and we deeply care for each other and for others, although again in a very different manner!” 

“Hard to describe I guess! Don’t know if that helps!”

Yes, it most certainly does. 

Oh. Em. Gee. 2013 is going to look amazing.

Tartan suits, punting in Cambridge and a ‘first look’, are just some of the fun and personal things couples who inspired me with their competition entries have got planned.

So you can imagine how hard it was to narrow down, but with some tough decisions, I got to my final three - and I’m beyond delighted to announce that Kat & Gary are my first ever photography winners! 

I’m going to try and keep some of the details back for the big photo reveal later this year (although I might burst in the meantime), but I can reveal instead of a themed wedding they’ve got themed tables planned, which include a punk table, a curiosities table - & my absolute favourite - a dinosaur table, designed by three year old Mason who is one of the couple’s two young sons. I can’t wait for my styling/photography collaboration with Mason to begin!

They’ll also be a DIY tattoo stall, which is fitting (& so frickin’ cool) as the couple got their engagement rings tattooed on - now you can’t get more individual than that!

Here’s Kat and Gary in their favourite photo together so far… I’m looking forward to help them add to their collection!

I was equally - and über - excited by other entries, and feel so lucky to be photographing all of my three finalists. 

Michelle and Andrew, who the Pop-Up Pirate reference refers to, have a village fete reception planned, complete with coconut shy, at a venue ‘hugged by fields with sheep’. 

The music loving, family loving couple will have their daughter Ada join them to walk back down the aisle to a song that means a lot to them - the playlist is one very important aspect of this wedding!

Michelle has given me some sneak peeks of the fabulous decorations and corsages she’s been making, I’m sooo excited about how full of colour their wedding pictures are going to be!

Kate and James’ wedding promises to be full of character - the ceremony will be held at the Cambridge Union Society’s debating chamber (oh wow). As Kate says, it’s fun to think they’ll be using a room that’s been graced by many a celeb and historic character, including the Dalai Lama, Winston Churchill, Ronald Regan, Clint Eastwood, Dame Judi Dench and Sir Ian McKellen.

This brave pair are thinking about enticing some of their guests (with homemade mince pies, mulled wine and blankets) to punt to the reception venue (oh wow again)… the wedding is in December so we’ll see, but either way it’s going to be fabulous as whether by water or road, guests will be toasting the couple at Cambridge’s Guildhall.

Thank you to Anna at Far From the Wedding Crowd for hosting the competition, and HUGE congratulations to all three couples on getting married - I can’t wait! xXx